Greece can claim that the extent of its involvement in the US-Israel war against Iran is purely defensive – deploying an anti-missile battery on the island of Karpathos to protect the naval bases in Souda Bay, Crete, and sending frigates and F-16 fighters to Cyprus, where UK bases have been targeted by Iran. There is also a continuing participation in Operation Aspides (‘Shields’), a Red Sea deployment aimed at guarding shipping against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.
But Greece may face a new challenge if French President Emmanuel Macron asks it to join an effort to protect the Hormuz Strait, a vital waterway affecting a sizeable chunk of global oil trade, from Iranian efforts to shut it down.
According to well-informed sources, Macron, fearful of the effects of the war on oil supply chains, broached the subject of extending the Aspides operation to Hormuz during his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last Monday.
Following the meeting, Greek government officials said that, at this moment, there was no French-led operation in Hormuz and that, in any case, Greece did not plan to send a warship there.
But, with oil prices rising sharply last week, France invoked an operation at Hormuz again, according to well-informed sources. This mission would be led by France, and Greece, Italy and, possibly, the Netherlands would be called upon to take part.
Greece has lately strengthened its defense ties with France, the United States and Israel. And, as part of an extensive armaments procurement program, it has struck deals with all three. On Monday, the Greek Parliament’s national defense and external affairs committee is expected to approve the first package of the so-called “Achilles’ Shield,” an anti-drone and anti-missile system based almost exclusively on Israeli technology. Which poses the question, can Greece deny its close allies its contribution to some operation?
Greek officials place a lot of importance on Thursday’s visit by Matthew Whitaker, the US ambassador to NATO. Whitaker will meet with Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and, if the schedule allows, with Mitsotakis himself. Whitaker’s agenda could include plans to lessen the US presence in military bases across Europe.